Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta said Wednesday that contract extension talks with the team have reached a stalemate, though he stopped short of declaring the discussions finished.
LaPorta is playing out the final season of his rookie contract. A report over the weekend indicated the sides had broken off negotiations for now so both could focus on the season.
The 25-year-old tight end offered a slightly different view after practice. He left the door open to an in-season agreement while confirming no deal is close.
“I don’t know if it’s truly off the table, but I think there’s certainly a stalemate right now,” LaPorta said. “I’m really giving the reins to my agent, Jack Bechta. He’s been handling it with the front office. All the advice he’s given me so far is that we just haven’t come to terms yet.”
Head coach Dan Campbell downplayed any concern about the stalled talks. He called the negotiations “the last thing on my mind right now” during his Wednesday news conference.
LaPorta’s production has not shown any dip tied to the contract situation. Through four games he has 22 receptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
Those numbers put him on pace for his highest yardage total since his rookie year. He has also played roughly 87 percent of the Lions’ offensive snaps.
The Iowa product was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft, 34th overall. He set the NFL record for catches by a rookie tight end that season with 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 scores.
A back injury that required surgery limited him to nine games in 2025. He finished that year with 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns before missing the final eight contests.
He has returned healthy this fall and ranks among the team leaders in receptions. The Lions entered the week at 2-2.
Detroit has publicly expressed interest in keeping LaPorta long term since the offseason. Other members of the 2023 draft class, including running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell, have already signed extensions.
The tight end market has moved upward in recent months. Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft, who shares an agent with LaPorta, signed a four-year deal this offseason worth $18.75 million per year.
Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts and Las Vegas’ Michael Mayer also landed contracts paying at least $15 million annually. Those figures have set a reference point as LaPorta’s representatives talk with the Lions.
LaPorta is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season if no extension is reached. The Lions would retain the option to use the franchise tag.
Campbell has said the organization values LaPorta’s work ethic and production. The coach noted after the most recent game that the tight end played one of his better outings of the year.
Neither side has detailed the specific gaps that remain in the negotiations. LaPorta indicated he is leaving those discussions to his agent and the front office while he concentrates on the remaining schedule.
